Source: American Forces Press Service

http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,113901,00.html

On September 18, 2006 American Forces Press Service reported, "Newly promoted Navy Lt. Cmdr. Abuhena M. Saifulislam had always wanted to serve Islam, even as a young boy growing up in Bangladesh. 'Islam is not just a religion to Muslims. It is a way of life,' Saifulislam said. 'That’s how I was brought up.' Saifulislam, now 44, realized his dream. Today, he tends to servicemembers’ spiritual needs as the second Muslim chaplain commissioned in the U.S. Navy. His current duty station is Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England promoted Saifulislam during a Sept. 11 Pentagon ceremony. Saifulislam also received a Joint Service Commendation Medal, his second, for his work this June at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There, he performed death rites for three Muslim detainees who’d committed suicide. The Muslim chaplain was also at Guantanamo when the detention facility first opened in early 2001. He was the only Muslim chaplain there at the time, he recalled, and he set up the diet and prayer regimes for the detainees."